The latest edition of the Good Universities Guide reveals how university fees have blown out under the Howard Government, say the Australian Democrats.
"In 1999 Prime Minister Howard stated that would be no $100 000 degrees under his watch. The Good Universities Guide shows that there are now more than 100 degrees costing at least that much, and even two that cost more than $240 000," Democrats' Spokesperson for Higher Education, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja said.
"It is mind boggling for Minister Bishop to come out in defence of this policy by saying that those who oppose full-fee degrees are discriminating against the three percent of undergraduate students occupying full-fee places.
"Full-fee places are discriminatory, particularly for those who cannot afford to accumulate a mortgage-size debt to get an education," Senator Stott Despoja said.
The 2007 Budget included the removal of the cap on the proportion of places in a course that can be full-fee places. The Department of Education, Science and Training admitted that this could lead to full-fee only degrees. Senator Stott Despoja moved an amendment to oppose the removal of the full-fee cap but the Government voted against it after announcing that they would ensure that any 'significant' shift of Commonwealth and full-fee places would require Ministerial approval.
"The Democrats remain committed to the principle that access to university should be based on academic merit, not wealth," Senator Stott Despoja said.
"We will continue to oppose the Howard Government's de-regulation of the higher education sector because that de-regulation has only led to higher and higher fees," Senator Stott Despoja said.
